Dam Lake, Thickets Meadows, and Spade Lake
The Outer Inks Trail system is a wide area of forested routes on the lower slopes of Chuwhels and Greenstone Mountain. The Coquihalla Highway is the eastern border. There are a few roads and a lot of ATV tracks. Many of the single and double tracks provide good hiking, especially in the off-season for motorized vehicles. Some of the tracks are signed by the Greater Kamloops Motorcycle Association, but the trails are unofficial, though still used. I don’t hike there from late spring through summer, especially on weekends. I prefer the quieter times of early spring, fall, and winter. On this last late April day, there was no one else on the trails on a 9.6 km route.
From the main parking area on the Inks Lake Road, I turned up the hill to follow single tracks through the open forest.
My first destination for the day was Dam Lake. The lake was full and spilling its banks over a double track. It was draining in a cascade into Alkali Creek.
When the lake is full a small island is surrounded by the lake water. By late summer, it will just be a point sticking into the lake.
From Dam Lake I worked my way west to a marsh and meadow on the Thickets Trail, and from there down to Spade Lake.
I spotted a coyote, a couple of deer, ducks and geese, and many birds along the way.
Next to Spade Lake is a marshy lake full of waterfowl, toads, and pond life.
This lovely, but remote spot is a favorite that I try to hike to at least once a year. It is 3.5 km from the parking area.
On the way back the slopes of Sugarloaf Hill were lighted by the sun’s rays shining through intermittent cloud.
The hike took 2 3/4 hours. It was quiet the whole way allowing for a time of moving meditation in the open forests of the Outer Inks Trails.